Combined mixer and pourer

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an improved agitating and pumping device, comprising: a housing; a gear chamber in said housing; an inlet and outlet for said chamber; a pair of gears in said chamber for pumping liquids through said chamber; a centrifugaltype agitator supported by said housing; a pawl-type ratchet mechanism to actuate the agitator; and a drive member to effect rotation of the gears and the agitator; wherein rotation of the drive member in one direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be engaged and thus causes the agitator to rotate, and in the opposite direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be disengaged and the pump to pump a liquid from the inlet to the outlet.

[451 Aug. 7, 1973 1 1 COMBINED MIXER AND POURER [76] Inventor: Yuen Se-kit, 97 Main St., Cha Kwo Ling, Kowloon, Hong Kong [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 179,838

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan 25, 1971 Great Britain 3,093/71 [52] US. Cl 222/239, 222/333, 222/385, 259/95 [51] Int. Cl 867d 5/48 [58] Field of Search 222/236, 238, 239, 222/240, 385, 333; 259/95 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,289,897 12/1966 Ginsberg 222/239 1,870,192 8/1932 Butler 222/236 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-John P; Shannon Attorney-Samuelson & Jacob [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to an improved agitating and pumping device, comprising: a housing; a gear chamber in said housing; an inlet and outlet. for said chamber; a pair of gears in said chamber for pumping liquids through said chamber; a centrifugal-type agitator supported by said housing; a pawl-type ratchet mechanism to actuate the agitator; and a drive member to effect rotation of the gears and the agitator; wherein rotation of the drive member in one direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be engaged and thus causes the agitator to rotate, and in the opposite direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be disengaged and the pump to pump a liquid from the inlet to the outlet.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENIEU M13 7 I975 SHEET 2 BF 4 PAIENIEB AUG 7 973 SHEET 3 BF 4 COMBINED MIXER AND POURER This invention relates to a device including a pump and an agitator. A particular embodiment of the invention relates to a mixing and pouring device including a container in which liquids can be mixed.

Battery powered fluid agitators and movers driven by low-power electric motors have been proposed. An example of such a prior art device is shown in US. Pat. No. 3289897.

Although such devices are often successful, one main disadvantage is the low battery life and the reducing of the efficiency of the device with aging batteries. For example, with an impeller having radially extending blades, some of the power of the driving motor is wasted in causing the rotation of the blades without effecting pumping of the liquid. Moreover, positive pumping action is not provided, and as the age of the battery increases the effectiveness of the impeller in forcing fluid from the pump to a liquid outlet is re: duced, and the impeller may be unable to raise the liquid.

In addition, when it is desired to mix. a liquid using such a prior art device, it is often necessary for the motor to rotate the complete housing of the device, thus wasting energy. As a result of loss of power caused bythe unnecessary rotation of a housing, the agitators must be small and therefore are of limited efficiency. The mass of the housing reduces efficiency of the agitation by reducing the maximum angular velocity ofthe agitator. Aging batteries are often unable to impart sufficient power to the motor to overcome the inertia of the housing.

In the said US. Pat. No. 3289897, a spring'actuated one-way clutch is used to engage or disengage the housing or the impeller, and the spring has a downwardly pointing end to engage a wedge-shaped groove in the rotatable housing. This end is biassed onto the housing and increases friction on the housing. Moreover, said end of the spring can cut into the housing and eventually prevent rotation thereof. It is an object of the invention to mitigate the above disadvantages.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved device for mixing a fluid and then moving the fluid to a pouring station while minimising wear on the device.

It is a further object of the ipvention to produce a mixer and pourer which does not include springs or other metallic clutch parts. i

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved mixing and pouring device in which battery life is maximised.

. It is a further object of the invention to utilize the power from a motor fora mixer and pourer to agitate the fluid by centrifugal-type action with increased efficiency.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gear pump for the mixer and pourer to increase pumping efficiency. f

Further objects and advantages of the present inven; tion will become apparent from the following description.

According to the invention there is provided a device including a housing having a gear chamber with an inlet andan outlet, a gear pump in the chamber, a centrifugal-type agitator, a pawl-type ratchet mechanism to actuate the agitator, and a drive member, the ratchet,

pump and agitator being constructed and arranged in such a manner that rotation of the drive member in one direction causes the means to be engaged and thus causes the agitator to rotate, and in the opposite direc-, tion causes the ratchet to be disengaged and the pump to pump a liquid from the inlet to the outlet.

As the pump is a gear pump, the rotation of the drive member in the first direction simply reverses the pumping action of the gear pump and terminates pumping of the liquid. A suitable gearmeans can be constructed to drive the ratchet, and the gear means or part of the gear means may form the gear wheels of the gear pump.

It will be appreciated that the agitator may be of any desired shape or form, and may be provided with blades in a suitable manner to liq uidise matter about the device. The possible uses of the device and various forms of agitator blade will be restricted by the strength of the materials used to form the device and also by the driving force applied to the drive member.

The device can advantageously be used in a domestic liquid mixer, such as a cocktail mixer. With correct design of such mixers it is possible for the device to mix and dispense blended liquids in response to simple manual operation, for example the depressing of an appropriate button. The device can beused in combina: tion with an electric motor, and, depending on the use for which it is intended, may be operated by a battery or a mains supply voltage. It will be appreciated that a battery operated domestic mixer including a device ac cording to the invention will have no plugor cord and will not be dependent on mains supply voltage. It will betherefore be particularly suitable for any situation, in which the mixer is intended to be portable, for example when travelling.

The invention will be better apparent from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings, in

which:

FIG. 2 shows a different view of the cap;

FIG. 3 shows a support for the motor;

FIG. 4 shows the support from another angle;

FIG. 5 shows a cover which sits on the cap and encases the support;

FIG. 6 shows in cross-section theassembled jar, cap, support, cover, and a device according to the invention; I

FIG. 7 shows a side elevation of the device;

FIG. 8 shows the device from below;

FIG. 9 shows the device from above;

FIG. 10 shows a section of the device on line AA of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 shows the drive system of the device on the line BB of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a section of the device on the line CC in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 13 shows a section of the device on lines DD of FIG. 7.

. Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6, a mixing jar 1 has a screw thread 2 onto which amp 3 can be screwed. A support 4 for a motor M rests on legs extending from the cap 3. A cover 5 sits on the cap 3 and encases the support 4. The device 6, jar, cap, support and coverare joined together as shown in FIG. 6.

The cap 3 has a threaded portion 20 which can be screwed onto the thread 2 ofthe jar. The portion 20 is preferably formed integrally with a rim 22 which en- FIG. 1 shows a mixing jar and a. cap for the mixing sures that the cover is seated accurately on the cap and with a frusto-conical portion 18 having a hollow part 12 at its lower end. A tube is fixed into the hollow part 12 in such a way that fluid passing into the tube 10 can pass through the part 12 and there be directed into a pipe 14 which leads to an outlet tube 16. The outlet tube 16 may be of stainless steel, or any other suitable material. The pipe 14 and tube 16 are fixed together and are held stationary by a ring 28 on the rim 22 extending upwardly from the cap and preferably formed integrally therewith. Support legs 24 and 26, preferably formed integrally with the cap 3 extend to support the support 4.

The support 4 has a plate 32 on which are formed seats 30. The seats 30 are arranged and designed to sit on the legs 24 of the cap. This ensures that the plate 32 is seated accurately on the cap. The seats 30 and plate 32 can be fixed to the legs 24 of the cap in any suitable manner. The support 4 has a housing 34 for a motor M, which is shown in outline form on FIG. 6 in the drawings. The motor M can be fixed in the housing in any suitable way. The motor has a shaft extending at one end into a bearing 46 in the plate 32 and surrounded at the other end by a sleeve 44. The sleeve 44 is used to connect the shaft of the motor to a drive member, drive shaft 100 of the device 6. The device will be described hereinafter. The support has members 40 formed integrally therewith and designed to hold electrical contacts 42 for batteries which provide current to operate the motor. The batteries are not shown. Also on the support 4 is a control switch arrangement including two supporting walls 36, a switch member pivotable on pins passing into the wall and contacts 48. The arrangement includes a circuit formed such that when the member 38 is depressed at one side the associated set of contacts closes one part of the circuit and the motor is driven in one direction, and when the member 38 is depressed at the other side similar circuitry causes the motor to be driven in the opposite direction. The wiring system of the circuit used with the motor and the switching arrangement is not shown but will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

A cover 5 encases the support 4 and includes manually operable means for permitting either end of the member 38 to be depressed as desired. Two housings 50in the cover are arranged so that two rods 52 extending from the housing press one on each end of the .member 38 such that when either one of the rods is depressed the member 38 will cause the opposite contact on the member 38 to be closed to those which are closed when the other rod is depressed. Buttons 54 are fixed on the rods 52 and are prevented from moving from the housing by rings 72 fixed in the cover. The rods 52 are biased to a position in which they do not depress the member 38 by springs 56 pressing against the buttons.

The cover 5 has in it a slot 58 to co-operate with ring 28 on the cap 3 and also has slots 60. A projection 66 on a member 64 which holds the cover over the support 4 passes through the hole 60. The member 64 is fixed to plate 32 of the support 4 and is resiliently biased in a direction away from the motor N. Projections 68 on member 64 co-operate with projections 62 on the cover 5 to hold the cover in place. To remove the cover, it is necessary to press the projections 66 inwardly towards the motor so that projections 68 and 62 no longer co-operate. The cover can then be removed from around the support 4.

The member fixed in the sleeve 44 passes through a sealing ring 30 which prevents fluid passing upwardly through the tube 10 and part 12 from leaking into the portion 18 of the cap 3. If desired, a plate 35 having an aperture ofa suitable size therein can be used to' prevent sleeve 44 from causing the drive shaft 100 to oscillate during rotation of the motor.

The liquid mixer and dispenser includes a device according to the invention for mixing a liquid in the mixing jar and for pumping the liquid upwardly through the tube 10 and to the outlet 16.

The device for mixing and pumping fluid will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 14 of the accompanying drawings. The device has a tube 101 which, according to the simplicity of its production and its size, can be connected to, in or about the tube 10 of the cap 3. The drive shaft 100 extends through the tube 101. The tube 101 is fixed in or is integral with a housing 113. The two ends of the housing 113 are substantially closed by a member 111 forming an agitator and by a plate 127. The member 111 is held slidably against a co-operating portion of the housing 113 by a ring 103 fixed about the tube 101. The member 111 encircles and is rotatable about the tube 101. Fins 105 are in-' cluded on the outer portion of the member 111 and, in use, are used to agitate fluid about the member. A projection 108 on the inner face of member 111 is used to enable the member to be rotated. This projection 108 can be engaged by a pawl 109 of the ratchet on a rotatable member 107 when the member 107 rotates in one direction. When the member 107 rotates in the opposite direction the projection 108 is not engaged by the pawl 109 and no positive driving force is exerted on the member 111 by the pawl. The member 107 encircles and is rotatable about the tube 101 and has a gear wheel fixed to or formed integrally with it. The gear wheel engages a gear wheel on a shaft or axle 131. The shaft 131 passes through a guide hole in the housing 113 and is connected at its other end to a gear wheel 123. The gear wheel 123 engages a gear wheel 121 which is fixed on the drive shaft 100. The drive system can be seen in FIG. 11, in which the housing, member 111, and plate 127 are shown. The drive shaft is operable on the gear wheel 121 which in turn is operable on the gear wheel 123 which drives shaft 131 and gear wheel 115. The gear wheel 115 engages the gear wheel on the lower portion of member 107 and drives member 107 accordingly. The pawl 109 rotates with the member 107. The wheels 123 and 121 are in the chamber 150 of the housing 113 and the two wheels and the chamber form a gear pump. The gear pump is arranged so that when wheels 121 and 123 rotate in one direction fluid is drawn into one side of the chamber through aperture 125 and is passed out of the chamber from the opposite side through a hole (not shown) leading to the chamber 133. The fluid in the chamber 133 can pass from the chamber 133 through the tube 101 into the tube 10.The chamber 133 and tube 101 thus form a passage from the pump and through the housing. When the wheels 121 and 123 rotate in this direction the ratchet does not engage the projection 108 on the member 111. When the direction of rotation of the motor, and thus the directions of rotation of the drive shaft 100 and gears 121 and 123 are reversed, the gear pump no longer serves to force fluid from the aperture 125 upwardly through the tube 101 but the pawl 109 engages projection 108 and thus cause the member 111 to be rotated and fluid in the mixing jar to be mixed.

It can thus be seen that a fluid in the mixing jar can be mixed or pumped through the tube 101 and to the outlet 16 merely by changing the direction of rotation of the motor.

When the jar, cap, support, cover and device 6 are fully assembled the arrangement will be such that depression of one of the buttons 54 on the cover 5 causes the fluid in the container to be mixed and depression of the other button causes fluid to be pumped from the container to the outlet.

It is possible for the device described to be made almost completely of plastics materials. It is preferred, however, for at least the drive shaft and advantageously the axle to be formed of metal. The jar can be made of glass, metal or plastics, although it is preferred to use glass. The cover, support and cap are advantageously made mainly of plastics materials although other materials can be used. The electrical circuitry, spring 56 and outlet 16 are normally completely metallic.

The device herein described achieves the objects of the invention with resulting advantages, in particular improved pumping and agitating efficiency.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best mode of carrying outthe invention, and which are susceptible to modifications of form, size, arrangement of parts and detail of operation, but is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. An improved agitating and pumping device comprising:

a stationary housing having a gear chamber for a gear,

pump, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an agitator rotatable with respect to said housing; ratchet means to actuate the agitator when rotated in a first direction and to disengage the agitator when rotated in a second direction;

a drive member to effect rotation of the said pump and said ratchet means;

an electric motor;

means to energize said motor, thereby to effect rotation of the drive member in one of two directions;

a plurality of gears driven by the drive member, two

of said gears being the gears of the said pump;

a cap on said housing and forming said agitator, said agitator being of the centrifugal-type; and

a hole formed in said cap, said drive memberpassing through said hole.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said energizing means comprises two sets of contacts each of which can be closed separately to selectively effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions, said output shaft being connected to said drive member; and two buttons each associated with one set of contacts and each of which, when depressed, closes the associated contacts.

3. An improved agitating and pumping device, comprising:

a housing;

a gear chamber in said housing;

an inlet and outlet for said chamber;

a pair of gears in said chamber for pumping liquids through said chamber;

a centrifugal-type agitator supported by said housing;

a pawl-type ratchet mechanism connected to one of said pair of gears and operative to actuate the agitator;

a drive member to effect rotation of the gears and the agitator;

two sets of contacts; each of which can be closed separately to effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions; and

two buttons associated with each set of contacts and each of which, when depressed, closes the associated contacts; wherein rotation of the drive member in one direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be engaged and thus causes the agitator to rotate, and in the opposite direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be disengaged and to thereby pump a liquid from the inlet to the out let.

4. In a mixer and pourer for beverages having a jar, a support on said jar, a motorsupported by said support, and drive means to be driven by saidmotor, the improvement comprising an agitating and pumping device having a stationery housing for a first gear wheel on said drive means, a second gear wheel engaging said first gear wheel, a third gear wheel mounted on a common axle with and rotatable. with the second gear wheel, a fourth gear wheel engaging the third gear wheel, a fourth wheel being associated with a rotatable member having a pivotable pawl thereon, the pawl being disposed and arranged to engage or not to engage a projection extending from the agitator, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotatable member, two of said gear wheels forming a gear pump for pumping said beverages when said pawl is disengaged from said projection.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said agitator is a centrifugal-type agitator.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said housing has an end plate which forms one wall of a pump chamber, said plate including an aperture which forms an inlet for said gear pump, and wherein part of said housing forms a passage to direct flow of liquid from the pump through the housing.

7. The device of claim 4, including two sets of contacts, each of which can be closed separately to effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions, and two buttons each associated with one set of contacts and each of which, when depessed closes the associated contacts.

8. A mixer and dispenser comprising a container, a support above said container, an electric motor on said support, a first tube depending from said support, a fur ther tube in communication with said first tube, a pump housing suspended by said first tube, a gear pump in saidhousing and having two gears to drive liquidtherethrough and into said first tube on rotation of said gears in a predetermined direction, a drive shaft from the motor to effect rotation of said gears of said pump in responseto activation of said motor, means to actuate said motor which means comprises two sets of contacts each of which can be closed separately to selectively effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions, said output shaft being connected to said drive shaft; and two buttons each associated with one set of contacts and each of which, when depressed,

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said agitator is a centrifugal-type agitator.

10. The device 'of claim 9, wherein said housing has an end plate which forms one wall of a pump chamber, said plate including an aperture which forms an inlet for said gear pump, and wherein part of said housing forms a passage to direct the flow of fluid from the pump and through the housing to the first tube. 

1. An improved agitating and pumping device comprising: a stationary housing having a gear chamber for a gear pump, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an agitator rotatable with respect to said housing; ratchet means to actuate the agitator when rotated in a first direction and to disengage the agitator when rotated in a second direction; a drive member to effect rotation of the said pump and said ratchet means; an electric motor; means to energize said motor, thereby to effect rotation of the drive member in one of two directions; a plurality of gears driven by the drive member, two of said gears being the gears of the said pump; a cap on said housing and forming said agitator, said agitator being of the centrifugal-type; and a hole formed in said cap, said drive member passing through said hole.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said energizing means comprises two sets of contacts each of which can be closed separately to selectively effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions, said output shaft being connected to said drive member; and two buttons each associated with one set of contacts and each of which, when depressed, closes the associated contacts.
 3. An improved agitating and pumping device, comprising: a housing; a gear chamber in said housing; an inlet and outlet for said chamber; a pair of gears in said chamber for pumping liquids through said chamber; a centrifugal-type agitator supported by said housing; a pawl-type ratchet mechanism connected to one of said pair of gears and operative to actuate the agitator; a drive member to effect rotation of the gears and the agitator; two sets of contacts, each of which can be closed separately to effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions; and two buttons associated with each set of contacts and each of which, when depressed, closes the associated contacts; wherein rotation of the drive member in one direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be engaged and thus causes the agitator to rotate, and in the opposite direction causes the ratchet mechanism to be disengaged and to thereby pump a liquid from the inlet to the outlet.
 4. In a mixer and pourer for beverages having a jar, a support on said jar, a motor supported by said support, and drive means to be driven by said motor, the improvement comprising an agitating and pumping device having a stationery housing for a first gear wheel on said drive means, a second gear wheel engaging said first gear wheel, a third gear wheel mounted on a common axle with and rotatable with the second gear wheel, a fourth gear wheel engaging the third gear wheel, a fourth wheel being associated with a rotatable member having a pivotable pawl thereon, the pawl being disposed and arranged to engage or not to engage a projection extending from the agitator, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotatable member, two of said gear wheels forming a gear pump for pumping said beverages when said pawl is disengaged from said projection.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said agitator is a centrifugal-type agitator.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein said housing has an end plate which forms one wall of a pump chamber, said plate including an aperture which forms an inlet for said gear pump, and wherein part of said housing forms a passage to direct flow of liquid from the pump through the housing.
 7. The device of claim 4, including two sets of contacts, each of which can be closed separately to effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions, and two buttons each associated with one set of contacts and each oF which, when depessed closes the associated contacts.
 8. A mixer and dispenser comprising a container, a support above said container, an electric motor on said support, a first tube depending from said support, a further tube in communication with said first tube, a pump housing suspended by said first tube, a gear pump in said housing and having two gears to drive liquid therethrough and into said first tube on rotation of said gears in a predetermined direction, a drive shaft from the motor to effect rotation of said gears of said pump in response to activation of said motor, means to actuate said motor which means comprises two sets of contacts each of which can be closed separately to selectively effect rotation of an output shaft of the motor in opposite directions, said output shaft being connected to said drive shaft; and two buttons each associated with one set of contacts and each of which, when depressed, closes the associated contacts, an agitator about said first tube and on said housing, and a ratchet mechanism connected to one of said gears for rotation therewith, said ratchet mechanism having a pawl to engage the agitator when rotated in one direction and to disengage the agitator when rotated in the opposite direction, whereby rotation of said drive shaft in one direction effects pumping and rotation of said drive shaft in the opposite direction terminates the pumping and actuates said agitator.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said agitator is a centrifugal-type agitator.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said housing has an end plate which forms one wall of a pump chamber, said plate including an aperture which forms an inlet for said gear pump, and wherein part of said housing forms a passage to direct the flow of fluid from the pump and through the housing to the first tube. 